Lawmaker drops plan to authorize judicial recalls

10/21/2005

FREMONT Following a meeting this week with Ohio s chief justice, state Rep. Jeff Wagner has dropped plans to introduce legislation that would authorize recall elections for judges.

Mr. Wagner (R., Sycamore) wrote to Chief Justice Thomas Moyer on Sept. 28 expressing concern about a budget dispute between the Sandusky County commissioners and Judge Brad Culbert, who oversees the county s juvenile and probate courts. In his letter, Mr. Wagner asked for a review of judicial powers and said he might propose a bill allowing judicial recall elections.

In a letter to Mr. Wagner last week, the chief justice noted that Ohio law provides several means for the removal of judges and said a recall provision would be redundant.

Mr. Wagner met Chief Justice Moyer on Wednesday to discuss the dispute in Sandusky County. Based on the chief justice s position, I probably will not go ahead with the recall legislation, Mr. Wagner said yesterday.